The Pacific-12 Conference always seeks national respect when it comes to basketball and no one could deny the league’s prominence in recent weeks.

Arizona and USC are the subject of an FBI corruption scandal and each had key assistant coaches indicted. Now that is a sure sign of becoming a big-time conference and it just so happens the Wildcats and Trojans are considered the two best teams.

If that weren’t enough, three UCLA players were arrested in Hangzhou, China, for allegedly shoplifting sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store.

Hopefully, the Pac-12 will make some news on the court too. So here’s a look at some of the best (and worst) as the season opens this weekend:

TOP FIVE TEAMS

Arizona: The Wildcats are national-title contenders with star guard Allonzo Trier and 7-foot-1 freshman Deandre Ayton. But will the FBI investigation derail their season?

USC: What is the status of sophomore guard De’Anthony Melton out of Crespi High? He was held out of two scrimmages and Coach Andy Enfield won’t say why. That leads to speculation it is tied to the FBI scandal.

UCLA: The Bruins look like a Top 25 team with center Thomas Welsh and guard Aaron Holiday back. But how many players will return from China?

Oregon: The Ducks should be a mess after their Final Four team lost Jordan Bell, Dillon Brooks and Tyler Dorsey. But New Mexico-transfer Elijah Brown averaged 20.9 points last season, guard Payton Pritchard was a starter last season and five-star freshman forward Troy Brown will make an immediate impact.

Arizona State: It’s Year 3 of the Bobby Hurley era and time for some results. Guards Tra Holder, Shannon Evans and Kodi Justice will provide the offense.

TOP COACH

Dana Altman, Oregon: No one in the Pac-12 gets more out of their roster than Altman. He is the only Pac-12 coach to get his team to a Final Four. Do you hear that Sean Miller?

SECOND-BEST COACH

Larry Krystkowiak, Utah: Never has the conference’s top talent but the Utes are always difficult to play.

OVERRATED COACH

Sean Miller, Arizona: OK, maybe this is harsh but Miller’s had some great teams in Tucson and where are the NCAA Tournament results?

SECOND-MOST OVERRATED COACH

Andy Enfield, USC: Still looking to win a road game against a Pac-12 team with a winning record and plays too many cupcakes in nonconference games.

TOP FRESHMAN

Deandre Ayton, Arizona: He has not played a game yet and is already on many preseason All-America teams.

BEST-KEPT SECRET

Reid Travis, Stanford: The forward averaged 17.4 points and 8.9 rebounds last season. That would make him an All-American if he played on the East Coast.

WORST SCHEDULING

With 16 conference games, the Pac-12 plays an unbalanced schedule, which means some teams do not play each other twice. This year, USC and UCLA play Arizona only once. Great timing considering these are supposed to be the top three teams.

UNDER THE RADAR

Don’t brush off Oregon State. Forward Tres Tinkle was one of the top freshmen two years ago but missed last season with an injury. The Beavers also have the best brother combination with Stephen and Ethan Thompson from basketball-power Bishop Montgomery in Torrance.

TOUGH JOB

Washington coach Mike Hopkins, the former Syracuse assistant, spent years waiting for Jim Boeheim to retire. It will never happen. So Hopkins is now rebuilding Washington, which has underachieved in recent seasons and lost Michael Porter Jr., perhaps the top freshman in the nation.

Does Cal even care about basketball? When Cuonzo Martin left for Missouri, the coaching search consisted of promoting assistant Wyking Jones, who cost less money than an actual head coach from another school. The Bears were picked 11th in the Pac-12 preseason basketball poll.

LARRY SCOTT’S GREAT IDEA

The Pac-12 commissioner’s pet project is making China the next frontier with his yearly basketball games. How is that working out this week?